The precise legal status of tobacco advertising in formula one was again thrown into confusion yesterday with the news that Philip Morris has signed a contract to extend its financial backing for the Ferrari team to 2011.

Cigarette branding on formula one cars at races within the European Union was banned at the end of July, but there are still ambiguities over whether such branded cars racing in events outside Europe can legally be shown on television in the EU.

The matter was hardly made clearer yesterday when a Philip Morris spokesman explained that the Ferraris would not carry Marlboro branding in countries where there was a ban on tobacco advertising.

"It [the sponsorship] is going to comply with the rules and regulations wherever we do business," said the spokesman, Tommaso di Giovanni. "There are countries where tobacco sponsorship is obviously not allowed. In those countries we will continue to support Ferrari without branding."

Ferrari's chairman Luca di Montezemolo announced the extension to the deal, which had been due to expire at the end of the year, on Saturday night. Renault, BAR and Jordan also have tobacco sponsorship.